Man jailed for brutally attacking woman in Bolton with meat cleaver

A man who brutally attacked a woman with a meat cleaver has been jailed for 21 years.

Mark Nuttall attacked the woman in his house in Farnworth, Bolton, in February 2025.

Nuttall tried to strangle the victim with a rope, and attacked her with a knife and a meat cleaver – she suffered serious and life-changing injuries as a result of the attack.

He tried to cover his tracks by further forcing the woman to say someone else had attacked her but she bravely told the truth to officers.

Nuttall (22/04/1979) pleaded guilty to attempted murder in June and was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court today (8/9/25).

Detective Constable Jon Liversage, of Bolton CID, said: “The savagery of this assault cannot be understated - the bravery that the victim has shown throughout the investigation is inspiring and I want to thank her for assisting me throughout the investigation.

“I hope this sentence can now give her and her family some closure.

“He kept her inside the address for four hours and when he couldn’t get his own way, he attacked her with a meat cleaver, hitting her in the head four times causing life-changing injuries.

“Whilst she was bleeding heavily from her head, instead of getting her medical attention, he mocked her.

“He called the ambulance service and told them the false story but once she was in the ambulance, she told the police officers the truth and Nuttall was arrested before he could harm her any further.”